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exactly it just another way for BCS schools to try to degrade our product. I pointed out preseason that any SMU fan bitchin' about TCU attendance is goin' to hear the say thing twice as bad about SMU when we rebuild our program because TCU is doing better in attendance than SMU will likely ever do in a non-BCS conference. We will never consistently get in the 30,000 range playing Rice or UAB or Tulsa or Tulane or any number of other CUSA schools.

When was the last time an SMU-TCU (regardless of venue) was sold out? Testiment to both teams doing better (one more so than the other but lets not go there).

feelan wrote:

Mike Maloney wrote:Oh good, more attendance smack talk. Exactly the kind of thing two small private schools with small fan bases should be taking up with each other.

It is only slightly better than campus appearance smack.

I've been waiting patiently for kicker talk and 'who eats better breakfasts' smack.

TCU, thanks for coming...thanks for the money...it's great that the game means something to both teams. In '97, it meant more to SMU and in '05 it meant more to TCU. The high ranking is a indication of tremendous success over the years in building the program. Neither team draws what the large state schools do, the academies or the 'church' schools (ND & BYU). We should be pleased with drawing more than we have in the past and making our games relevant in college football. I'm just sorry that a conference championship isn't at stake.

I was at the TCU/OSU game. True, the upper tiers were empty. But I was impressed by the crowd size nonetheless. I was actually surprised when they announced only 46,000+ attendance. I thought it was more like 50,000-55,000.

It should be noted that there was a surprisingly good turnout of OSU folks, which certainly helped. The TCU fans were definitely the majority. But I would say there was a good 10,000 OSU folks there. That's not to take anything away from TCU though. For a school of that size to represent as well as they did in an enormous NFL venue was impressive.

It will take awhile (and some sustained success) for SMU to get to where TCU is. But we can do it. It's not easy for a school like SMU to be heard in a market the size of Dallas. But I think regularly filling a 32,000 seat stadium is doable for this program if it keeps heading the right way.

And just for the record, my wife, son, and I attend every SMU home game. Go Ponies!

I'm just looking forward to what should be a great atmosphere at the stadium. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Mestengo wrote:

Stallion wrote:when SMU takes more than 1-2,000 and change to Ft. Worth then you guys might not look so ridiculous

Were you there last year in the rain?

i was under the deck on the west side of amon carter watching.

TCU is a cautionary tale about realistic attendance expectations. They were playing well for a number of seasons before the season ticket sales got any traction. You just have to hope that with rivalry games like this that the area football fans will think about SMU and TCU games. A great alternative to the money madness of a cowboy game adventure.

MrMustang1965 wrote:Let's be clear about something the froggies are bragging about: when they played at The Death Star, the upper deck was tarped so - in essence - it was not really 'sold out'. Not sure how many seats the upper deck at the Death Star holds but that stadium had LOTS of empty seats that were unseen by the television viewing audience because of the tarps.

really? REALLY?-- who cares, our attendance is pathetic! - we would be THRILLED to have a game at cowboy stadium with 45-55K

Cardinal Puff wrote:TCU is a cautionary tale about realistic attendance expectations. They were playing well for a number of seasons before the season ticket sales got any traction. You just have to hope that with rivalry games like this that the area football fans will think about SMU and TCU games. A great alternative to the money madness of a cowboy game adventure.

great point.

we are going for our 3rd winning season in about 20 years, lets not expect people to just show up w/o seeing us first prove we aren't a flash in the pan.

I think we are well on our way but things like loyalty and confidence take time to build in a fan base that has been jilted for so long.

I'm thrilled that Ford is soldout!! This is a great rivalry for both schools and I'm glad that there is so much excitement and buzz about the game. It sounds like the neighborhood is catching the excitement, too, with yard signs, banners on buildings and the lights on the building(s)-------how cool is all of this?!?!?!? Makes me wonder how many sell outs we would have had back in the Pony Express days if we had played on campus then. Be LOUD and have fun!!!
KICK 'EM MUSTANGS!!!!!!!!

Boston Pony wrote:TCU, thanks for coming...thanks for the money...it's great that the game means something to both teams. In '97, it meant more to SMU and in '05 it meant more to TCU. The high ranking is a indication of tremendous success over the years in building the program. Neither team draws what the large state schools do, the academies or the 'church' schools (ND & BYU). We should be pleased with drawing more than we have in the past and making our games relevant in college football. I'm just sorry that a conference championship isn't at stake.

+1

I remember going to TCU-SMU games in both the old Cowboy Stdium (Irving) and in the Cotton Bowl. Just curious if you guys see a time when larger attendance would call for selected SMU home games to be played at the Cotton Bowl?

PurplFrawg wrote:I remember going to TCU-SMU games in both the old Cowboy Stdium (Irving) and in the Cotton Bowl. Just curious if you guys see a time when larger attendance would call for selected SMU home games to be played at the Cotton Bowl?

I think most of us would rather endure a couple seasons of [deleted] that Ford isnt big enough and people cant get tickets to the "big" games rather than sacrifice the Blvd for Fair Park

only way we will ever need to play at the Cotton Bowl again is if/when Texas comes to town